Sometimes, while browsing the net for news, I come accross things I just cannot not post. "Some enterprising Austrian Über-geeks [have created] a Telnet stream with, believe it or not, live ASCII footage of matches being played [at the World Cup Football]. Simply fire up a command prompt and type 'telnet ascii-wm.net 2006' and you'll find a live 'video' stream from 10 minutes before kick-off (or should that be boot-up?)." I also look forward to the Wimbledon version that resembles Pong.

Well, at least an entertaining way to watch the World Cup.
All you soccer-loving nerds, rejoice!

First of all it's not called soccer, but football. The entire world calls it football (fußball, le football,...) and it existed well before the US started calling their rugby ripoff "football".
It's like the US calling black people african-american; their not from Africa, their American. They're black. Just as white Americans aren't britain-american...

"First of all it's not called soccer, but football. The entire world calls it football (fußball, le football,...) and it existed well before the US started calling their rugby ripoff "football".
It's like the US calling black people african-american; their not from Africa, their American. They're black. Just as white Americans aren't britain-american... "

Not to be a dick but it's time for a reality check. According to wikipedia, modern SOCCER came around 1863. Footbal (the real kind, not guys in shorts) around 1869. That's six years difference, hardly "well before". Going by popularity alone, I think the rugby ripoff won easily. Just so you are aware, it's not called football only in America. I believe the F in CFL stands for football, although I could be wrong. Even the euros know what real football is; NFL Europe ain't skinny guys in shorts tearing off their shirts.

If we're talking about american football (aka perverted rugby), the word we use is "amerikansk football". Because your football isn't football.

According to Wikipedia soccer is known as football outside the US, and the US is only one nation of hundreds.

Besides that football did exist long before 1863. 1863 is the year of the official beginning. Football as a game have existed for several centuries (the same goes for hockey). Spelling and rules have changed through the years, and keeps changing, but the fact is that football as we know it (outside USA) is centuries old.

Not to be a dick but it's time for a reality check. According to wikipedia, modern SOCCER came around 1863. Footbal (the real kind, not guys in shorts) around 1869. That's six years difference, hardly "well before".

Check your "facts".

"SOCCER" was derived from "Association Football", which was shortened to Assoc. in common use and derived into "Soccer". So:
1st. Football
2nd. Association Football
3rd. Assoc.
4th. Soccer

Going by popularity alone, I think the rugby ripoff won easily.
In the USA, sure. Elsewhere, are you kidding?

"Even the euros know what real football is; NFL Europe ain't skinny guys in shorts tearing off their shirts"

lol, who would want to watch "NFL Europe" when you can go and watch a *REAL* rugby match, you know what i mean, rugby!, the one where they don't wear sissy helmets and paddings, and actually run on real grass...
As for football (the real one) the beauty of it is that anyone can play it, all that is required is skill. It doesn't matter if you are skinny, tall, short, black, white or blue, it's a game of skill, inspiration and team play.

Let me just quote John Cleese. "You should stop playing American "football." There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game.

The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football.

Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like nancies). "